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Book: Semantics

Chapter: 6. Cognitive mechanisms

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.29002

Blurb:

Chapter 6 discusses the cognitive mechanisms which account for the relationship






between the component parts of a linguistic expression, whether






at the word or phrase level. The aim is to introduce the tools of the cognitive






framework and explore how they account for intricacies of linguistic






expressions. The chapter consists of two sections. Section 6.1 relates to






integration: the way the subparts are combined to form a composite structure.






In four subsections, four pivotal factors are presented: correspondence,






determinacy, elaboration and constituency. These concern the ways in which






lexical items are combined with each other to make meaningful expressions.






Section 6.2 relates to interpretation: the way the meaning of the resulting






composite structure is explained. This concerns the fact that the meaning of a






composite structure is derived not only from the meanings of its subparts but






also from the pragmatic knowledge behind its use. In two subsections, two






essential principles are presented. These are compositionality and analysability.






In both sections, I pursue three steps. First, I present the factor. Second, I






spell out its nature. Third, I test its application.

Chapter Contributors

  • Zeki Hamawand ([email protected] - book-auth-217) 'University of Kirkuk and University of Sulaimani'